Notre Dame's win makes it so awkward for Brian Kelly and LSU
This is For The Win’s daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a friend recommend or forward this to you? If so, subscribe here. Have feedback? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey! Now, here’s Mike Sykes.
Good morning, Winners! Welcome back to the Morning Win. Thanks so much for reading today. Appreciate you!
Look, I know today ain’t about Brian Kelly.
It’s about Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish making it back to the natty for the first time since 2013 when Alabama ran through Notre Dame 42-13.
The Orange Bowl was a huge win for that program. The fact that they made it all this way — against Penn State, no less — speaks to the job Freeman has done. To go from losing to Northern Illinois at the beginning of the season to playing for a national championship is unheard of.
We’ll have plenty of time to talk about that, though. Right now? I just cannot stop laughing at how hilarious this is for Brian Kelly. As my guy Cory Woodroof writes, he has to be considered the biggest loser of this game.
I know that sounds harsh, but you’ve got to remember how he exited Notre Dame in the first place.
Kelly left Notre Dame high and dry. Players only found out he was leaving via social media after reports of his departure finally surfaced. He then sent a text to the team confirming the news and apologizing to his players for them finding out that way. He said he planned on holding a team meeting at 7 a.m. the next morning (lol) to let them know. And that meeting? It was about 10 minutes. A couple days later, he’d apparently developed a Southern accent. Two months later, he was posting goofy dance videos with recruits.
But what makes Notre Dame’s win here so sweet for the Irish is how badly he trashed the program on his way out. He disparaged the kids on the roster that he built.
Kelly said he left South Bend because he wanted the resources to win a national championship. He told everyone that he and Notre Dame were “on different paths.”
That’s true
— Jason Kirk (@jasonkirk.fyi) January 2, 2025 at 7:39 PM
As it turns out, he was absolutely right!
Marcus Freeman’s Fighting Irish are about to play for a National Championship. Brian Kelly’s LSU Tigers haven’t sniffed the College Football Playoff since he arrived. Kelly just lost the No. 1 QB recruit in the nation to Michigan and fans are growing tired of his shtick by the day.
My, my. How the tables have turned here. You absolutely love to see it.
Venu Sports is done
(Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
Remember that master streaming service that was going to combine all of FOX, ESPN and Warner Bros. Discovery? Yeah, it’s not happening.
The three companies released a joint statement on Friday announcing the end of Venu Sports and it technically hadn’t even started.
We don’t know exactly why they’re nixing this project, but our Charles Curtis thinks legal trouble may have nixed this:
“As I mentioned, there was a lawsuit by Fubo that was withdrawn thanks to a settlement, which seemed to get Venu the green light to go. But there was possibly more legal trouble ahead, with DirecTV and Dish making noise. Maybe there were signals we haven’t heard publicly that the government might intervene due to antitrust concerns.”
This is sort of a bummer. All of these streaming services have become a real pain. It feels like you have to have 30 different streamers available to you just to watch a sport on any given night. And, with prices jumping up (LOOKING AT YOU, YOUTUBE TV), it just doesn’t feel worth it anymore.
Fox, ESPN and Warner Bros. joining forces certainly felt like a jump back to cable. But at least some essential streaming services would be bundled together, which may have made it easier for consumers to watch what we want to watch.
Now, we can’t even have that. Sigh. Stupid streaming wars.
A Rams-Vikings update
(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
With the California wildfires tragically raging on, questions surfaced about whether the Rams and Vikings could play their playoff game at SoFi Stadium this weekend.
The answer is no. Instead, the game will be played at the State Farm arena in Arizona. Here’s more from Mary Clarke:
“On Thursday, the NFL announced the news, stating that “in the interest of public safety” the game — originally set for SoFi Stadium — will now take place at State Farm Stadium, the home of the Arizona Cardinals. Tickets will go on sale for the game on Friday.”
What a terrible set of circumstances. This is obviously the right move — especially if you won’t postpone the game because of the league’s playoff schedule. Moving it to another venue is the next best option. Everyone’s safety is the priority here.
A PALISADES FIRE MAP: Almost 3,000 acres have been set ablaze
Keep it locked here for more updates on the fire and how this tragedy is continuing to impact the sports world.
Photo Friday: It had to be Christan Gray
Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
What an interception. This is Christian Gray making the play on Drew Allar’s late throw to essentially deliver Notre Dame the Orange Bowl win. This will go down as one of the best players in program history.
Quick hits: It’s Greg McElroy’s fault … Simone Biles x Hoda Kotb … and more
— Greg McElroy totally jinxed Drew Allar on that last interception. Here’s more from Charles on that.
— This is such a heartwarming moment from Simone Biles and Hoda Kotb. Shoutout to Hoda. What a career.
— Don’t talk to Kim Caldwell about “rebuilding.” She’s not here for it. Meg Hall has more.
— Christian D’Andrea has the best bets for you in the first round of the NFL Playoffs.
— Here’s why all 14 teams in the playoffs WON’T win the Super Bowl from Robert Zeglinski and Christian.
— Abdul Carter is the coolest, man. Here’s Mitch Northam with more.
That’s a wrap, folks. Thanks so much for reading. Have a fantastic weekend. Enjoy the football! Peace.
-Sykes